MPTF Caregivers to Strike for 3 Days

Nurse aides, licensed vocational nurses, medical records workers and other support staff at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's long-term care center and hospital are planning a three-day strike beginning on March 18 unless a deal can be reached on a new three-year contract.

The Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers West, which has been representing the caregivers in contract negotiations, informed the facility's management that their members will stop work.

In a statement to TheWrap, MPTF CEO Bob Beitcher said that they will poll workers in the union to find out who will continue reporting to work and come up with a plan to replace staffers who will who are planning to strike.

"We want to assure all of our stakeholders across the industry that MPTF will continue to provide the highest quality of care for our residents and patients alike during the time the union is away from their jobs," Beitcher said in a statement.

The SEIU-UHW is representing roughly 500 employees in talks. The union has been frustrated in its efforts to convince the MPTF to bolster staffing levels. Moreover, the MPTF's request to raise healthcare premiums and institute a freeze in retirement contributions have been a source of contention during the talks.

"MPTF management is refusing to agree to enforceable safe staffing ratios in the contract," the union said in a release announcing a possible strike. "In addition, management is moving to double the healthcare premiums for workers, pushing health coverage out of reach for some employees. These negotiations have occurred while MPTF has bargained in bad faith and engaged in additional unfair labor practices."